Understanding Complex Magnetic Spin Textures with Simulation-Assisted Lorentz Transmission Electron Microscopy

Arthur R.C. McCray, Timothy Cote, Yue Li, Amanda K. Petford-Long, Charudatta Phatak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is an increased interest in topologically nontrivial magnetic spin textures such as skyrmions and chiral domain-wall solitons, both from a point of fundamental physics understanding as well as potential technological interest in low-power memory applications. In order to control their behavior, it is necessary to understand their complex spin texture at the nanoscale. Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) is a suitable technique for studying these systems due to its high spatial resolution and capability to simultaneously characterize magnetic texture and microstructure. In this work, we present the application of PyLorentz, an open-source software suite that we have developed, for quantitative image analysis of Néel-type skyrmions in thin-film heterostructures. PyLorentz enhances LTEM capabilities by enabling reconstruction of magnetic induction maps from experimental images, as well as simulating LTEM images using micromagnetic simulation data. We demonstrate this for simulated Néel skyrmions as well as experimental data from [Pt/Co/W] multilayer heterostructures. We also show how simulation-assisted LTEM analysis is crucial for understanding these complex magnetic spin textures, in which the reconstructed magnetic induction map (seen in the LTEM images) differs significantly from the magnetization configuration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number044025
JournalPhysical Review Applied
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2021

Funding

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division. Use of the Center for Nanoscale Materials, an Office of Science user facility, is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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